Here are the other three submissions to my "Write A Post in 15 minutes" challenge. They have more of an out and about theme. The first is from Peter who lives in south Devon, not actually in Honiton but fairly close. The second is from Lorenzo and was originally laid out with ten intermediate photos (which I have spent more than 15 minutes editing). The third is from Christopher, who I'm pretty sure is the youngest contributor. Thanks to all three of you! I may be out of a job soon.
8)Honiton Hot Pennies
Amongst some of the stranger annual events in the country celebrated annually for centuries is the Honiton Hot Pennies tradition in Devon. It started when the town was given a Royal Charter to hold an annual fair 803 years ago. In the 13th century in this important coaching town was on the old Roman London to Exeter road. Amongst other events this was a staging point to change horses and was used by the messenger travelling from Falmouth to London in 1805 with hot news that Nelson had won at Trafalgar.
Hot Pennies is basically an amnesty for the day for all the rouges and vagabonds who had been evicted from the town, encouraging everyone in the surrounding area to visit the fair, allowing the riffraff a day back in town for the annual fair to help swell the stallholders takings. It starts with the Town Cryer holding a garlanded pole with a glove on the top and proclaiming "no man may be arrested so long as this glove is up", which encouraged locals to attend without fear of being arrested over bad debts.
The local gentry thought it fun to throw red hot pennies out of the windows for the poor to scrabble for. Those of a certain age will understand that as well as burn an old penny might have also given a nasty bump if it hit you on the head. These days of course the pennies are significantly smaller, and also gently warmed to save burnt fingers attending the local surgery.
It is a fun hour, usually throwing pennies from the upstairs windows of a couple of pubs, a restaurant, a solicitors and one other business. Unfortunately you have missed it this year, it was last month, but if you crave more Devon madness there is always the Ottery Tar Barrels on 05 November, but you can watch only. Runners with a barrel must have lived all their life in Ottery.
9)Day trip to Wiltshire
No car? Don't like driving? Don't worry there's plenty of fine places seemingly in the middle of nowhere that are actually accessible. Simply rock up at Paddington station just before 10:00 & buy a day return to Swindon (top tip if you only have a Network Railcard split your tickets at Didcot 🙄)
Arrive Swindon, and unless you're a real purist take local bus to Coate Water Country Park and walk over the spiral bridge crossing the M4 passing to the West of Chiseldown.
Follow the Ridgeway and you'll eventually arrive at Avebury Stone Circle. There's a pub there too if you're thirsty. And the bus stop is right there for an hourly £2 bus back to Swindon. Enjoy.
10)Richmond Park after dark
On Monday I attended a concert at Kingston University. Looking at the public transport options, I decided I would cycle from Wimbledon tube station, across Wimbledon Common to Kingston, and then after the concert I would cycle across Richmond Park to Richmond tube station. I am not familiar with either Wimbledon Common or Richmond Park, so the journey held as much interest as the concert. I checkedonline for any cycling restrictions, and worked out what routes to take.
All went smoothly (apart from crossing the A3). The most striking part of the journey was the ride through Richmond Park in the dark. The gates are closed to vehicular traffic after dark, but not to pedestrians or cyclists. Without any street lighting the park is properly dark, and my bike lights illuminated relaxed-looking deer grazing by the side of the road. It was a big contrast to the built-up areas nearby.
